Pattern grading machine



Dec. 6, R949 5. BURTON 2,490,203

PATTERN GRADING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l I [221/672 for ShirleyBur'tan 's/lzto Dec. 6, 1949 s. BURTON PATTERN GRADING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17 1947 .rm r

Dec. 6, 1949 s. BURTON PATTERN GRADING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 55 Filed Sept. 17, 1947 'hz'rleyBurion By h Azrnay Dec. 6, 1949 s, BURTON 2,490,203

PATTERN GRADING MACHINE.

Filed Sept. 17, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 $217627 for (Shirley Burton Patented Dec. 6, 1 949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,490,203 PATTERN GRADING MACHINE Shirley Burton, Leicester, England, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Fleming'- ton, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 17, 1947, Serial No. 774,531 In Great Britain October 10, 1946 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pattern-grading machines, and more especially to those of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,933,672, granted November 7, .1933, on application of Kestell and Burton.

Machines of the type under discussion have compounded .pantographic mechanisms capable of being regulated at intermediate stages of cutting a pattern when, for example, it is desired to 'do center grading, that is, reproduce one or more selected portions of a model at 1:1 ratio, but all other portions at some other ratio. One problem incidental to changing the grading ratio at 'an intermediate stage of cutting a. pattern is to prevent displacing the Work with respect to the cutting tool, since a displacement can, and in many cases does, produce a defect in the pattern.

Therefore, the'purpose of'the present invention is to provide a pattern-grading machine with means by which both grading slides, one of which is superposed upon the other, may be temporarily. fixed in locationwhile adjustments of the pantographic mechanisms are being made to vary the grading factors.

In machines of the type under discussion, the

location of the cutting tool is fixed, but the tracer or guide pin "is carried by a grading slide which is superposed upon another grading slide and normallymovable with respect to the latter when the grading ratio is other than 1:1. The two grading slides derive their motions from pantograph levers the centers (fulcra) of which are,

laterally adjustable to vary the grading ratio.

For the purposes of the present invention the pantograph "levers are connected :to the slides, respectively,"by'novlpivotal*connections adapted, when loosened, to 'absorb'the motions of the levers caused by adjustingthe pantograph centers. 'In addition, each grading slide is provided with clamping means by which it may be readily, though temporarily, bound location wherever it may be "at "any stage to prevent displacement ofthe work 'holderwhile the pantograph centers are being adjusted. During periods of use, as distinguished from periods of adjusting, the clamping means above mentioned will be left loose to free the grading slides, and at the same time-otherclampingmeans will be set up tightly to fix the pivotal connections relatively to their respective slides, and "thereby render them eifective. The grading slides will then move in respouse t0--'-'the-demands oi -t-he pantograph levers.

Referring 'to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 a front elevationoi the upper portion 'of a pattern-grading machine embodying the Fig. 4 is a vertical section through elements intersected by line IVIV in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through elements intersected by line V-V in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, a punch l, a die 9, a primary carriage 2|, a modeland work-carriage 2-5 and a model-holder 41 are organized and identified as in the aforesaid Patent 1,933,6'7.2.' A fixed frame H] provides support for the elements mentioned above and for others to be described, and maintains the punch l and the die 9 constantly in a fixed locality where the punch is reciprocated vertically at high speed by an electric motor (not shown) to cut a pattern. The

carriage 25 is provided with jaws 33 arranged to clamp a blank of pattern-board and move it edgewise between the punch and the die. For this purpose the carriage 25 is superposed upon the primary carriage 2| and is movable relatively thereto in a horizontal plane. The carriage 2| is constrained to a rectilinear path by a horizontal track I 9 on the frame ID. A horizontal track 22 (Fig. 2) on the carriage 2| lies at right-angles to its path of travel and constrains the relative travel of the carriage 25 to a straight path.

The model-holder 41 (Fig. 1) is connected to the carriage 25 by a horizontal hingepin H, and

is provided with many slots, variously located, for the reception of individually adjustable spacers equipped with screws I2 by which a sheet metal template or model [3 may be fastened to the holder 4'! and thereby supported in a planecooperatively related to the follower or guide pin [5. The latter may remain fixed in alinement with the punch l or it may move horizontally in response to grading demands when either or both of the pantographic mechanisms, hereinafter described, are set for any grading ratio other than 1:-1.

The guide pin 15 is mounted in a holder [4 aflixed to a grading slide I 6. This slide is superposed on another grading slide I l and is movable relatively thereto. in a rectilinear horizontal path parallel with the longitudinal edges of a trackbar l8 by which it is guided. The bar i8 is a part of the carriage I! which also comprises a track along the bar 20.

3 The grading slide [1 is constrained to horizontal travel in a rectilinear path parallel with the path of the carriage 2|. Two track bars 24 (Figs. 2 and 3) for guiding the slide H are aflixed to the frame I0, and so is a track-bar 26 (Fig. 2) along which a trolley 21 is arranged to ride. This trolley is movable to and fro on its track with the same amplitude of travel as the carriage 2|, with which it is connected by a rod 28 and other connecting parts. The trolley 23, on the other hand, is movable to and fro along its track 20 with the same amplitude of travel as that of carriage 25 along the tracks 22. To maintain an operative connection of the trolley 23 with the carriage 25 despite relative sidewise travel of the latter, a grooved horizontal bar 30 is affixed to the carriage, while an arm 3| is rigidly related to the trolley and is provided with rollers 32 fitted to and located in the groove of the bar. The arm 3|, the trolley 23, and rods 34, 35 are organized to form a movable unit for pantographic purposes.

One pantographic mechanism is arranged to communicate frontward and backward travel of the trolley 23 to the grading slide I6, while another such mechanism is arranged to communicate sidewise travel of the trolley 21 to the grading slide H. The mechanism for actuating the slide I6 comprises a pantograph lever 36 that derives its operative movements from the trolley 23 with which it is connected by a pivoted sleeve 31. A pivot member 38 carried by the slide I6 engages the lever 36 (Fig. and provides an operating connection. A groove extending lengthwise in the lever 36 is occupied by a fulcrum member 39 (Fig. 4) carried by an adjustable bar 40 and connected thereto by a pivot 4|. This pivot constitutes a pantographic center and is adjustable sidewise to and from alinement with the pivot member 38. For this purpose the bar 40 is situated in a groove in the grading slide I1. This slide also carries adjusting mechanism 42 (Fig. 2) to which the bar 40 is connected.

For manufacturing convenience the pivot member 38 is made of two parts (Fig. 5), one screwed into the other, the outer part including a flat plate 43. When the parts are assembled the plate is embedded in the grading slide IB which is provided with a groove for its reception and with retaining strips 44 that enable it to be shifted to various positions with respect to both slides l6 and H. The plate part 43 includes a sleeve 45 that projects through a slot 48 in the slide l6 (Fig. 3) and a corresponding slot in the bar i8 of the slide l1. Under operating conditions the pivot member 38 will be fastened to the slide |6 but movable with respect to the slide l1. To this end the slide I6 is provided with a clamping washer 49 and a nut 50 for setting it tightly against the plate 43.

On the other hand, if, during the process of cutting a pattern, a change is to be made in the grading effect of the pantograph lever 36, it will usually be desirable to prevent displacement of the slide l6 while the pantographic center 4| is being shifted. For this purpose the slide [6 is provided with another clamping means comprising a plate 5|, a screw 52 and a nut 53. One margin of the bar |8 (slide I1) lies between confronting portions of the slide l6 and the plate 5| to be clamped by them in consequence of tightening the nut 53. Therefore, in practice, the operator will tighten the nut 53 before loosening the nut 50, and, after adjusting the pantographic center 4|, he will tighten the nut 50 before loosening the nut 53.

A similar combination of clamping means is provided for the other pantographic mechanism which includes the trolley 21 (Fig. 2), a pantograph lever 54 and an adjusting member 55. The lever 54 is connected to the trolley 21 by a pivoted sleeve 56, to the slide H by a pivot member 51 (Fig. 4), and to the frame I0 by a fulcrum member 58 and an adjustable bar 59. The members 58 and 59 are connected by a pivot 60 that constitutes a pantographic center, and this center may be shifted to regulate the pantographic effect of the lever 54. For this purpose the bar 59 is installed in a groove 6| in a component part of the frame l0, and is operatively connected to the member 55 to be adjusted thereby.

The pivot member 51 is made of two parts, one screwed into the other, the outer part including a flat plate 62 and a sleeve 63. When the parts are assembled the plate 62 is seated in the slide I1 and overlapped by retaining strips 54 and a clamping member 65, the sleeve 63 then projecting through a slot 66 in the slide which enables the pivot member to be shifted with respect to the slide for adjusting purposes. Under operating conditions the pivot member 51 will be fastened to the slide H but movable with respect to the frame to. To this end the slide I1 is provided with a screw 61 and a nut 68 for tightening the memtrack bar 24 which is a component part of the frame ID and one of the two fixed bars on which the slide n rides when the machine is in opera-- tion.

When a change is to be made in the grading effect of the lever '54, by adjusting the pantographic center 60, during the procedure of cutting a pattern, the operator will tighten the nut 10 before loosening the nut 68. After the change has been made the operator will tighten the- Since the.

nut 68 before loosening the nut 10. effect of the nut 10 is to bind the slide H to the fixed frame H), and the effect of the nut 53" (Fig. 5) is to bind the slide IE to the slide N,

no displacement of the guide pin |5 will be caused by adjusting either of the pantographic mecha nisms while these nuts are set up tightly.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a pattern-grading machine of the typein which one pantograph lever is connected to a" fixed frame by means including a laterally adjustable fulcrum, and otherwise connected to a grading slide slidable on the frame, and in which another pantograph lever is connected to said slide by means including another laterally adjustable fulcrum, and otherwise connected to a grading slide superposed on the first said slide; and movable relatively thereto; clamping means, arranged to bind the first said slide to said frame.' at various positions along its path of traveL:

clamping means arranged to bind said superposed slide to the first said slide at various positions along its path of travel relative to the latter, two

Therefore, to prevent displacement of' pivot members carried by said slides, respectively, and engaging said levers, respectively, and two clamping means carried by said slides, respectively, for binding said pivot members to their respective slides in various positions of adjustment, said pivot members being adjustable laterally of their respective slides when their respective clamping means are loose.

2. Ina pattern-grading machine, a fixed frame, a model and work carriage supported thereby, a model guide, a tool constrained to a fixed station by said frame, two grading slides mounted on the frame one superposed on the other and arranged to support the guide and said other constrained by said frame to a straight path, two pantographic centers one adjustably mounted on said frame, the other adjustably mounted on said other slide, two pivot members carried by said slides, respectively, but individually adjustable rectilinearly REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,933,672 Kestell et a1 Nov. '7, 1933 1,987,799 Ryan Jan. 15, 1935 

